R (Williamson) v Secretary of State for Education and Employment

The appeal was brought by Christian parents and teachers who objected to the ban on corporal punishment in schools. They argued that the ban on corporal punishment in schools was incompatible with their Convention rights under the Human Rights Act 1998. They argued that they were entitled to manifest their religious beliefs in the upbringing of their children, including the use of corporal punishment. The House of Lords held that the ban on corporal punishment in schools was not incompatible with the claimants' Convention rights. The claimants' beliefs were genuinely held and were consistent with basic standards of human dignity and integrity. However, the ban on corporal punishment in schools was necessary in a democratic society to protect the rights and freedoms of children. The ban pursued a legitimate aim and was proportionate to that aim. The ban was also in line with international standards, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The House of Lords held that the ban on corporal punishment in schools did not violate the claimants' rights under article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights or article 2 of the First Protocol. The appeal was dismissed.

The final orders of the House of Lords were that the appeal be dismissed.